𝘼𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡 | ✓

31 - Independence

VALENTINA'S POV

"Come on, swing at me!" Xavier yelled, trying to agitate me- it worked. I took a step back before charging at him, yet again.

I threw punch after punch, but he blocked them by putting his forearms up. When I stopped for a second, he took this as a chance to try to do an upper-hook punch, but I grabbed his wrist, and his eyes widened, immediately knowing his mistake.

Turning my back to him, having a firm grip on his wrist, I flung him over me and he hit the ground in front of me on his back. As I let the man go, he glared at me jokingly as I helped him up.

"I was just going easy on you because Francis said so, you know," he huffs, and I roll my eyes with a smile.

"Of course, you are,"

"It's true! Plus, you have bird powers and shit!" he says, and I nodded my head, agreeing with the last part.

Walking away from the crowd of trainers, I wiped the sweat off myself since I had been wearing a jumper since I didn't realise that hickies stay on the skin for so long, and I'd had to hide my neck for this long. If I did know, I would've pushed Francis off me that night.

I changed into a sweatshirt, flying out of the bathroom window before anyone could see my neck. The training and enhanced abilities I've gotten with these wings are useful. I've become pretty good with knife throwing, though I've become one of the best with hand-to-hand combat.

To pass by the time, when Francis was working, I'd spar with the people training in the gym rooms, since it benefits both of us. Even though I knew that Francis told everyone to go soft on me and not hurt me before we duelled I told them to forget that, and they usually did. So, I won some and lost some.

But by far, the thing I'm focusing on is learning how to fly. Mostly by myself without Francis. Knowing he wouldn't like it, I do it in secret. I found a space in the forest to practice getting off the ground, without any leverage. With the support of the trio of dogs.

The three would sit and watch me attempt to get off the ground and once I did, they would chase me, trying to nip my heels, maybe in a way to keep me in the air. But when I landed on the ground, they would immediately stop and let me stretch again. And that's what I was doing now.

Francis was on a trip today, so he shouldn't be back until late afternoon, and I had at least a few hours to practice.

I let a deep breath out and flare my wings before jumping and then flapping rapidly. I stayed in the air for seconds before I came down. The dogs barked in celebration, and I laughed at their enthusiasm, but I stopped as I felt a sudden presence behind me. Chills were sent down my spine as a finger trailed down my back and I instantly turn, for my eyes to be met with a golden blaze.

"What are you doing out here alone?" his voice deadpanned, and I clapped my hands together with a nervous smile.

"Francis!" I cheered, but his face remains blank. "How long have you been watching me?" I began slightly hovering above the ground, attempting to edge away to escape, but he caught on.

"Long enough," he huffs and pulls me back onto the ground. The dogs come and sit at my feet as if to protect me from Francis, I chuckle but he ignores them. "Why are you flying out here by yourself?" Francis asks sternly and I raise an eyebrow and cross my arms.

"Oh, I don't know..." I deadpan "Maybe because I don't want people seeing these?" My tone is blunt as I point to the hickeys scattered along my neck and collarbone. His lips break into a smirk and he pulls me closer to him.

"I don't know, I quite like them." he shrugs, and I scoff with a smile and jokingly push him away, but his wings pull me back into his grasp. We laugh together as he puts his nose on mine and we look into each other's eyes.